When she became pregnant with two different men’s babies on the same night and that odd fact got out a few months later, Mary was not only fired from work for no legitimate reason, but all her co-workers dropped her like a rock as a friend. Even a woman she had known since college refused to pick her up from the hospital when she needed help.

Instead, Captain Danton of the Vice Squad attempted to get her to solicit him, but gave up when he realized she was in serious pain. So instead he took her to the hospital that had just sent her home. Between the doctor and Mary, he discovered she wasn’t a hooker, but before she was recently fired, she’d been the DRG conglomerates’ controller. “Off Record” Mary shared what had happened. Just as well she wanted it off the record, because there was nothing he could do about it now. Charles Lott was one of the wealthiest men in the town. But Captain Danton did believe her story of being deceived by her ‘fiancé‘ who turned out to already be married and raped by her boss. She had a tell when she lied, but her shocking story rang true.

Thus, Mary’s only friend in the entire town is the man who planned to arrest her for solicitation when he arrived.

Proud Mary ByLiza O’ConnorBook 3 of theRequires Rescue Series∞Contemporary Suspense∞Sometimes even the strongrequires a helping hand.BlurbMary Mason may have lost her job and reputation, but she has too much pride to allow vengeful women and their manipulative husbands to destroy her life and steal her new born babies. Unfortunately, pride alone isn’t going to save her. When Captain Chad Danton answers a call about a prostitute soliciting at the local library, he discovers a determined woman in desperate need of medical care. Upon hearing Mary’s story, he resolves to help her, not realizing her enemies will join those who wish to destroy his career.

EXCERPTBefore the policemen could approach, the women from their SUV jumped out of the car and started screeching. “Officer, arrest that woman. She was having sex with that man out here for everyone to see.”The other woman nodded. “We heard him offer her a hundred dollars if she’d…well you know. And she did. Right here in front of God and everybody.”Cooper and Blankenship were getting a kick out the women’s false claims and were now asking for details.Chad looked at the clearly frightened woman beside him. “Do these women know you?”She nodded. “They’re dedicated to making my life hell.” Her tired eyes met his. “I am not a prostitute.” She looked at her leopard dress in disgust. “This isn’t mine. My clothes and purse were missing, so I had no choice but to dress in this to leave the hospital.”He frowned. “Did you report it to the hospital?”“No. I knew who took them. There wasn’t anything the hospital could do.” Her eyes went to the women still elaborating on what they had seen. Problem was these women didn’t want to say the words needed to describe the crime.He pulled out his wallet and showed her his badge. He felt her fear double.“Look, I was just doing my job. I had already determined you weren’t soliciting, but unfortunately, dressed as you are I can’t leave you sitting here, so either I or these officers will need to take you home.”“You,” she said in an instant.He frowned. “Have you ever met these policemen before?”Her hands shook. “No, I’d just prefer you.”God, she was a terrible liar. He could hear it in her voice and see it in her body. “Have you been arrested for prostitution before?”“No! I told you I’m not a prostitute. Until last week, I was the controller of DRG Commodities.”He stared at her in shock. No tells of lying in that claim. “I can check that out.”She sighed with relief. “Can you do it now, because I do not want to go anywhere with those men.”“Let me take you to my car. I can do it there.”He reached down and helped her up. He watched her body shiver from the pain standing up caused. To hell with taking her home, he was taking her back to the hospital.

ABOUT THE AUTHORLiza O’Connor lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels.

​Mary seems to be someone she isn't but that doesn't stop the police chief, Chad, from seeing the real her. When two women (and much of the town) set out to ruin Mary's life, she's not willing to sit by and let it happen, but after giving birth to twins, she's a little worn out. She wants to fight but doesn't see how to stop the vicious people who want to harm her and her innocent babies.

Chad steps in to help Mary only to discover there's more going on in the police department than a few crooked cops. Now not only is Mary in trouble but Chad may lose more than a job...he may lose his life.

Ms. O'Connor's stories always delight. She takes ordinary situations and turns them on their ears. Everything seems outrageous but really does happen in the real world. Gossip and jealousy can turn ordinary people into killers. Corruption of the police department happens in big cities like Detroit and small towns across America. But just when you think life is bleak, Ms. O'Connor shows us that not everyone is evil or selfish... life really does have a happy ending.